Hello John,
Perhaps like me, you've been feeling a little rushed, stressed, and overburdened lately. I feel many outside pressures and influences on my life. Each day, I am so grateful to receive Franciscan Mediaâs newsletter because I can take a moment to pause and remember who I amâa child of God. And for a moment, I enter a sacred space and feel Godâs loving embrace. Renewed through this experience, I can go forward and accomplish the dayâs work. Thank you for being a part of our Franciscan Media family. I pray that todayâs email brings you peace, joy, and an experience of Godâs love. If you are inspired, please consider supporting the friars through this important work with a gift to Franciscan Media at: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/newsletter |
Saint of the Day for June 3: Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions
Saint Charles Lwanga and Companionsâ Story
One of 22 Ugandan martyrs, Charles Lwanga is the patron of youth and Catholic action in most of tropical Africa. He protected his fellow pages, aged 13 to 30, from the sexual demands of the Bagandan ruler, Mwanga, and encouraged and instructed them in the Catholic faith during their imprisonment for refusing the rulerâs demands. Charles first learned of Christâs teachings from two retainers in the court of Chief Mawulugungu. While a catechumen, he entered the royal household as assistant to Joseph Mukaso, head of the court pages. On the night of Mukasoâs martyrdom for encouraging the African youths to resist Mwanga, Charles requested and received baptism. Imprisoned with his friends, Charlesâ courage and belief in God inspired them to remain chaste and faithful. For his own unwillingness to submit to the immoral acts and his efforts to safeguard the faith of his friends, Charles was burned to death at Namugongo on June 3, 1886, by Mwangaâs order. When Pope Paul VI canonized these 22 martyrs on October 18, 1964, he also made reference to the Anglican pages martyred for the same reason. Reflection Like Charles Lwanga, we are all teachers and witnesses to Christian living by the examples of our own lives. We are all called upon to spread the word of God, whether by word or deed. By remaining courageous and unshakable in our faith during times of great moral and physical temptation, we live as Christ lived.
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Godâs Grand Imagination
I have learned that the plan of God is much more exciting than anything I ever could have fashioned for myself. The impulse to become like the people we admire can become a great hindrance to our spiritual life. Our vocation, or state of life, should form our life of prayer and spiritual practices. âPray as you areâ is a straightforward way to remember this. I am not a hermit, a monastic, or even a mendicant friar. I am a secular priest.
So, pray as you are and not as you wish or think you should. Always be faithful to your state of life. In the seemingly mundane, ordinary circumstances of your life, the most extraordinary and unexpected thing can happen: You become a saint!
âfrom St. Anthony Messengerâs âLet Us Pray: Pray as You Areâ
by Fr. Gary Caster
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Discover the updated classic, Humility of God: A Franciscan Perspective, by renowned spiritual teacher Ilia Delio. |
Struggles at Work: A Franciscan Perspective Reflect In our professional lives, we often encounter challenges and difficulties that can leave us feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, and disheartened. Whether itâs navigating office politics, facing tight deadlines, or dealing with interpersonal conflicts, the workplace can sometimes feel like a battleground where our values and beliefs are put to the test. As Franciscans, we are called to embrace these struggles with humility, perseverance, and graceâto see them not as obstacles to be overcome, but as opportunities for growth, transformation, and spiritual renewal. Remember, the struggles we face today are but stepping stones on the path to a deeper, more profound experience of Godâs grace and presence in our lives. Pray Gracious God,
As we may face struggles, help us to remember that you are with us
and know that we entrust our burdens and cares to you,
knowing that you are always with us, walking by our side,
and guiding us through the storm.
Journeying with you is a reminder that even in our darkest moments,
there is hope, light, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.
Amen. Act Consider how you can approach future challenges at work with a Franciscan spirit, embracing them as opportunities for growth, transformation, and spiritual renewal. Todayâs Pause+Pray was written by Paul Lipowski. Learn more here! |
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